Reinforcement for cots



March 22, 1949. y, HQARD 2,464,863

REINFORCEMENT FOR COTS Filed July 24, 1945 flue/7727 ,3 art 1 ffoa r @wwgm WW Patented Mar. 22, 1949 a UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE REINFORCEMENT FOR COTS Bert Victor Hoard, Richmond Highlands, Wash.

Application July 24, 1945, Serial No. 606,844

2 Claims.

This invention relates to folding beds, and more particularly to a center reinforcement for a folding bed of the type employing a foldin wooden frame having a flexible fabric bedding surface secured thereto of canvas or the like.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved reinforcing means for a canvas folding cot for eliminating objectionable sagging at the center portion of the cot.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved center reinforcing means for a canvas folding cot, said reinforcing means being of very simple construction and being very inexpensive to fabricate.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the f0110Wing description and claims and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top view of the central portion of a canvas folding bed equipped with reinforcing means in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

In folding cots of the conventional type having a folding wooden frame and a canvas or other fabric bedding surface secured to the frame, the canvas or other fabric tends to sag under load at the center portion of the cot where the fabric is relatively unsupported by the frame. The sagging usually develops after a comparatively short period of use, and frequently becomes so pronounced that the fabric sags down onto the transversely crossed central supporting legs of the cot under the weight of the occupant, resulting in discomfort to the occupant.

It is a prime purpose of this invention to provide a reinforcing means at the central portion of the cot to limit and to prevent excessive sagging at said portion.

Referring to the drawings, l designates a canvas cot of the conventional folding type, which in its open position is supported on crossed transverse folding legs at its ends and by crossed transverse folding legs 2, 2' at its center portion. The canvas bedding surface 3 is secured at its longitudinal edge portions to longitudinal wooden frame members 4, 4', except at the central portions thereof where semi-circular cut-away portions 5, 5' are provided to provided clearance for folding for the hinge joints in the longitudinal frame members.

In accordance with this invention, a supporting band 6 is positioned under canvas 3 transversely at the central portion thereof, said band comprising a body portion 1 of rubber or other elastic material, having vulcanized or otherwise secured to its end portions metal C-shaped hooks 3, B which are engaged over the respective longitudinal frame members 4, 4' at the jointed portions thereof within cut-away sections 5, 5. As shown in Figure 1, band 6 is of substantial width and is adapted to yield only sufficiently to equalize the supporting effect of the canvas bedding surface at the central portion thereof with respect to the remaining portions thereof. As a result, the sagging tendency due to the absence of positive support of the canvas itself at the cut-away portions 5, 5' is substantially corrected.

The C-shaped hook members 8, 8' are formed with lug elements 9, 9 adapted to lock the hook members in position on the longitudinal frame members when the reinforcing band is in tension, as it would be When engaged with said longitudinal members in the open position of the cot. The band may be readily removed by relaxing its tension, as when the cot is being folded, and disengaging the hook members 8, 8' from the longitudinal frame members.

While a specific embodiment of a center supporting structure for a folding cot has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a reinforcing band for folding cots and the like, the combination, which comprises a relatively wide elastic band, and supporting clips at the ends of the band substantially of the same width as that of the band, said clips having horizontally disposed sections extending into opposite ends of the band and being permanently secured thereto, the outer ends of said horizontally disposed sections having arcuate outward and downwardly extending sections, with straight inward and downwardly inclined sections from the ends of said arcuate sections, and upwardly ex- BERT VICTOR HOARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 26,235 Scott Nov, 22, 1859 207,462 Valley Aug. 27, 1878 726,408 Curry Apr. 28, 1903 859,741 Comstock July 9, 1907 952,214 Rasmussen Mar. 15, 1910 961,004 Palmer June 7, 1910 975,996 Reed Nov. 15, 1910 1,516,434 Hoogner Nov. 18, 1924 1,567,493 Douglas Dec. 29, 1925 1,716,176 Vitez-Kereztfalvy June 4, 1929 1,983,889 Anderson Dec. 11, 1934 2,075,796 Baker Apr. 6, 1937 

